Appendix 3: Tuberculosis in Canada 2012 – Population denominators used in rate calculation

Appendix 3: Population denominators used in rate calculation

Using data from Statistics Canada, population denominators for the Canadian-born non-Aboriginal population are derived using the following formula:

Incidence rates in the foreign-born population from 2001 onward are based on population estimates derived from the Canadian census. In some cases, rates for the foreign-born population are presented by the Stop-TB /WHO TB epidemiological regions. For a complete listing of the regions and the countries within each region please refer to Appendix 6: STOP-TB Partnership TB epidemiological regions and member countries.

In the annual Tuberculosis in Canada reports published before 2003, rates for the Métis and First Nations people without status were not calculated because reliable population estimates for these two populations were not available. In 2003, Statistics Canada’s Demography Division produced population estimates for the Métis, enabling reporting of incidence rates for this population. Beginning in 2003, reported case counts for the Métis were separated from counts of the First Nations people without status, and Métis-specific incidence rates were presented. By contrast, accurate population counts for First Nations people without status are not available and so incidence rates are not calculated. Some TB program reporting systems are unable to separately report cases that are First Nations people without status and cases that are Métis. Therefore, incidence rates for the Métis should be interpreted cautiously.

Current and historical incidence rates for First Nations populations with status are based on population projections from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. However, using different population denominators from different sources introduces biases and as a result, caution is advised when comparing First Nations populations with status to other origin groups.

Finally, the historical rates presented in this report are updated when new population estimates become available, which may result in inconsistencies between incidence rates in this report and in previous TB in Canada reports.